I am currently pre-nursing and this past semester was only able to complete two of the classes that I took. I'm really not sure where else to post this, and no one I know has had this problem so they can't really give me advice or straight answers.
My school requires 67% completion, I met 60%, thus leading to my financial aid being suspended. This was not a case of me slacking off or not caring. I managed to pull an A and a B+ in the classes I was able to complete, but the problem is that my family and I are currently in the midst of a foreclosure and dealing with that and trying to move took up a lot of my time. We are currently living with my aunt and uncle in their house.
I plan to appeal the suspension because I am an otherwise good student with a 3.8 GPA and honestly, I can't continue without some sort of aid.
So far what I know about appealing is that it requires documentation as proof of mitigating circumstances and I have paperwork that we received that stated the bank would be beginning the process of foreclosure after my parents bankruptcy was complete. I will also need to write a letter and sit with a guidance counselor. I have never had any issues like this before, but after an already terrible year, 2014 doesn't seem to be off to a great start. I can't get into school until Thursday, January 2 when they open again and I am so upset and nervous in the meantime.
Have you ever had your financial aid suspended or know someone who has? Did you appeal? What was your experience?
I also had this happen to me. I was pregnant during one of my semesters of pre-reqs, and my daughter was diagnosed with a serious birth defect. I wound up withdrawing from a couple of my classes because I was just not able to concentrate enough to get the grades I needed, and I didn't want to wind up failing A&P, etc.
I met with the dean of financial aid, and had a written letter explaining why I had fallen below the minimum completion rate and what I planned to do differently to complete my classes in the future. It was a brief meeting, and I had to sign a form stating that I would not withdraw from any further classes once the semester had begun. They reinstated my financial aid without any further issue.
Good luck! I keep having to appeal mine being cut off because of "lack of academic progress", since I have a zillion units from changing majors a few times years ago. Luckily, because I AM making progress toward my major (graduating in May!!!!!), it gets appealed no problem.
Happened to me too. I just wrote an appeal letter with some printouts of emails between me and my professor showing that I made an attempt to stay on track and a simple doctors note. The counselor briefly looked over it and approved it. I was on probation for a semester and now im back on track.
Oh man, I feel you, OP! I just went through the same thing earlier this year and was able to get it reinstated. I dropped out of college ten years ago and withdrew from 19 credit hours worth of classes, meaning there was no way I could attain the SAP 67% rate. What I did was:
1. Paid out of pocket for a semester and got A's.
2. Filed an appeal which included documentation (I dropped out when 3 hurricane hit our town one after the other, and spent a long time working with insurance companies to track down the claim forms, also printed out newspaper articles about it)
3. Included recommendations from my current professors
4. Got into the honors program at my school to show how motivated I was (which I also had to do a special interview for because I technically didn't qualify. Met with the director and explained my circumstances).
Colleges can make exceptions, so just get documentation documentation documentation! Overdue bills, statements from your aunt/uncle stating you live with them, anything to back up your claims of financial hardship.
My financial aid was suspended for the fall 2013 semester. I lost all of my scholarships last year. I almost didn't make it into the fall 2013 semester. But I appealed the decision and provided proof of my illnesses. They reinstated my financial aid the second week of classes. My advice is to look on your school's financial aid website and see what you need to do. There should be links to information about the appeals process there. Read carefully. Print off anything that needs to be included (my school required an appeals form and an academic success plan to be signed by an academic advisor). Fill out as much of it as you can now. Know what classes you plan to take in the spring and write down alternatives just in case one of your initial choices fills up before your financial aid is reinstated. Write your appeal letter. Get copies of the paperwork to be provided as proof. And take all of this to your counselor as early as you can on Jan. 2nd. The faster you move the easier this will be. There are templates for writing academic appeal letters on Google. Those could be of help when you construct your statement. In case you do not hear anything from financial aid and classes have started, ask your friends to send you copies of the syllabi for your classes. Read them and do what you can. (I hope you're signing up for most of your classes with a friend or two.) And lastly, do not condemn your spring 2014 semester because of what's happening now. Things will work out. They did for me. If you need anymore advice, just ask. Sorry for the rambling, but I was trying to remember everything I did.[/quote']
I was just approved of my appeal for the same reason. The MOMENT I got an email stating I was on academic suspension due to my completion rate, which most damage was done years ago, I wrote up a letter stating what happened, and how I have changed as a student- I provided copies of my grades for assignments to show that I average out to be (mostly B) but an A-B student, but to show I make good grades and was not in any way trying to waste their time or financial aid packet. 3 days later I was reinstated my financial aid- so keep your head up- breathe- I remember feeling heartbroken when I got suspended but you still have a chance to turn it around. Good luck to you :) And I also just applied to an LVN program so Im still nervous to as how this will all look. But stay positive-and keep your faith that everything will work out. Because it will work out :)
I was just approved of my appeal for the same reason. The MOMENT I got an email stating I was on academic suspension due to my completion rate which most damage was done years ago, I wrote up a letter stating what happened, and how I have changed as a student- I provided copies of my grades for assignments to show that I average out to be (mostly B) but an A-B student, but to show I make good grades and was not in any way trying to waste their time or financial aid packet. 3 days later I was reinstated my financial aid- so keep your head up- breathe- I remember feeling heartbroken when I got suspended but you still have a chance to turn it around. Good luck to you :) And I also just applied to an LVN program so Im still nervous to as how this will all look. But stay positive-and keep your faith that everything will work out. Because it will work out :)[/quote']
Thanks so much! I really do appreciate all of these replies because I was devastated once I got the email. Fingers crossed it all goes well tomorrow. I have 3 letters about the foreclosure, emails between my professor and I to prove I wasn't negligent and did make effort, and my appeal letter.
Good luck to all of you and thanks for your replies!
Hi everyone I am currently pre-nursing and this past semester was only able to complete two of the classes that I took. I'm really not sure where else to post this, and no one I know has had this problem so they can't really give me advice or straight answers. My school requires 67% completion, I met 60%, thus leading to my financial aid being suspended. This was not a case of me slacking off or not caring. I managed to pull an A and a B+ in the classes I was able to complete, but the problem is that my family and I are currently in the midst of a foreclosure and dealing with that and trying to move took up a lot of my time. We are currently living with my aunt and uncle in their house. I plan to appeal the suspension because I am an otherwise good student with a 3.8 GPA and honestly, I can't continue without some sort of aid. So far what I know about appealing is that it requires documentation as proof of mitigating circumstances and I have paperwork that we received that stated the bank would be beginning the process of foreclosure after my parents bankruptcy was complete. I will also need to write a letter and sit with a guidance counselor. I have never had any issues like this before, but after an already terrible year, 2014 doesn't seem to be off to a great start. I can't get into school until Thursday, January 2 when they open again and I am so upset and nervous in the meantime. Have you ever had your financial aid suspended or know someone who has? Did you appeal? What was your experience? Any information at all is greatly appreciated.[/quote']
I'm not familiar with this issue, but I would like to just tell you that you are a strong person. Persevere & not giving up, especially for your family is a challenging task...something I'am all too familiar with during school. I will keep you in my prayers , as I'm sure that you will conquer this storm & it all will payoff for you/your family big time! Have a Blessed New Year!
I'm not familiar with this issue but I would like to just tell you that you are a strong person. Persevere & not giving up, especially for your family is a challenging task...something I'am all too familiar with during school. I will keep you in my prayers , as I'm sure that you will conquer this storm & it all will payoff for you/your family big time! Have a Blessed New Year![/quote']
Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness and kindness! I really do appreciate it. All the best to you and your family as well.
I am more than confident your appeal will be approved. And this site is AWESOME!! It doesnt take being in the situation to have such nice words of encouragement from others :) Paperclip all your stuff together and relax and start planning your next semester. It also looks way better to have all the supporting documents than to just appeal with a form that most schools make you turn in. You will be JUST FINE.
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I also had this happen to me. I was pregnant during one of my semesters of pre-reqs, and my daughter was diagnosed with a serious birth defect. I wound up withdrawing from a couple of my classes because I was just not able to concentrate enough to get the grades I needed, and I didn't want to wind up failing A&P, etc.
I met with the dean of financial aid, and had a written letter explaining why I had fallen below the minimum completion rate and what I planned to do differently to complete my classes in the future. It was a brief meeting, and I had to sign a form stating that I would not withdraw from any further classes once the semester had begun. They reinstated my financial aid without any further issue.